Colgan Air

[Coney]

Just curious. Do any of you know anything about flying for Colgan? Is it a good company to work for? How's the QOL? Training? People/employees? -- JJC

[ChrisH]

From what I hear, some people like it, some people hate it. Just depends. They offer a quick upgrade, which is a positive. People are hired from there to the majors, but some people also use them to gain some 121 experience, and then they move on to another regional.

As for QOL ... the pay is typical prop regional pay, I guess. Not too bad once you upgrade. It is one of those jobs, for the most part, that has you home almost every night, which is a positive if you have a family. Some complain about that, because it means no per diem.

Maintenance is sometimes an issue/complaint about Colgan, so not being based at a MX base is ideal.

Overall, if you are considering them, I'd go for it. If nothing else, you get some 121 experience, and move on.

[killbilly]

Originally Posted by Coney

Just curious. Do any of you know anything about flying for Colgan? Is it a good company to work for? How's the QOL? Training? People/employees? -- JJC

Search function. There are a TON of threads about Colgan.

[Coney]

Thanks, ya'll.

[GaTechKid]

Take home pay during the first year is around $1100 per month after insurance deductions. 2nd year will be around $1220. FOs survive on spaghetti and rumors. You'll upgrade to captain at the end of the 2nd or beginning of the 3rd year. Pay will increase to about $2600 per month take home. No 401K during the first year. No company contributions to your 401K ever. Perhaps 2 bonuses per year of less than $100. No per diem unless you're a senior lineholder in Houston. All out-n-backs in the northeast meaning you are back in base at night. You either have the morning shift (ex. 6am-3pm) or evening shift (ex. 2pm-10pm). Schedules are mostly Mon-Thurs, Tues-Fri, or Fri-Mon. The Saab is fun to fly. Most captains have been with the company 4-7 years by the time they leave for greener (SWA, CAL) or not so greener pastures (Gemini, Allegiant).

[Fly4Pay]

Originally Posted by GaTechKid

FOs survive on spaghetti and rumors.

Switch to Ramen noodles. What is that stuff--48 cents a case or something?

[wheelsup]

Originally Posted by Fly4Pay

Switch to Ramen noodles. What is that stuff--48 cents a case or something?

More like $0.10. I never got into it. As a CFI I ate pasta noodles and sauce. Almost as cheap, but more filling and a lot less sodium .

Interesting hearing from a colganite the upgrade is now into the two year plus category. I'm used to the <12 month upgrade speeches .

I can see why FO's will be leaving. I would. $1200/month take home on second year pay? Ouch!

[Seggy]

Originally Posted by wheelsup

Interesting hearing from a colganite the upgrade is now into the two year plus category. I'm used to the <12 month upgrade speeches .

I can see why FO's will be leaving. I would. $1200/month take home on second year pay? Ouch!

For the Saab guys it will be 2+ years. Beech Captain is in the 12-16 month range.

This could change tommorow though if/when we get more planes.

[wheelsup]

Originally Posted by Seggy

For the Saab guys it will be 2+ years. Beech Captain is in the 12-16 month range.

This could change tommorow though if/when we get more planes.

I heard you guys were picking up some more saabs, 10+? Are they replacing the 1900's or additional saab's for more flying?

[Seggy]

Originally Posted by wheelsup

I heard you guys were picking up some more saabs, 10+? Are they replacing the 1900's or additional saab's for more flying?

There is a guy in my newhire class who is going to the sim for the upgrade. We have been here a year. I don't have the time yet.

Who knows. We are getting more Saabs and will probably expand our United and Continental Codeshares. The loads of those flights have been excellent. I don't see us getting more Airways Flying. Getting rid of the Beech? It will happen, but not overnight.

[GaTechKid]

Ok, I'll be honest. As a flight instructor it was just spaghetti and sauce. As a FO you can afford to throw on the occasional hamburger meat and parmesan cheese. Perhaps you can also split a pitcher of PBR on a Thursday night special. As a captain you can afford lasagna and MGD, although I'd recommend sticking to the High Life and throw the savings into your Roth IRA.

[blee256]

Originally Posted by GaTechKid

Take home pay during the first year is around $1100 per month after insurance deductions. 2nd year will be around $1220.


No per diem unless you're a senior lineholder in Houston.

OUCH.....how does anyone survive on that pay? mine isnt a whole better, but at least its an increase. Has there ever been a union drive attempted at Colgan?

[GaTechKid]

OUCH.....how does anyone survive on that pay? mine isnt a whole better, but at least its an increase. Has there ever been a union drive attempted at Colgan?

1st year is $21 - 2nd year is $23 - 3rd year $43 if upgraded
So the answer to your question is one either 1) bites the bullet and upgrades or 2) bails to a jet regional

I had heard there was one a long time ago, but a union drive would have to come from the captains. If you stay there as a FO you don't want to do anything that might affect your upgrade. More than a couple people have been denied the upgrade because they have done things to annoy the Colgans.

[Seggy]

A few other tidbits...

The reason upgrade is so long is that they have hired extremely low time guys so it is taking them 2 or so years to meet the requirements to upgrade. If you are hired with 600-800 hours it will take you that long to upgrade.

I find it VERY funny how people are bashing second year pay at Colgan. What is second year pay at Pinnacle per hour? Exactly, you are flying a plane with almost twice as many seats. We are the highest paid across the industry on the Beech. On the Saab we are VERY close to Mesaba and Eagle on the pay charts. I would even bet that our Saab guys make more than those at Mesaba and Eagle with our overtime, guys who become checkairman, and TDY.

You really can't bash Colgan on its pay or upgrade time.

[GaTechKid]

Second year pay at Pinnacle is so below industry average it's atrocious. Colgan's pay is more in-line with industry averages. On a FO to FO or CA to CA comparison, there's no way Colgan pilots make more than Mesaba or Eagle guys. Both the pay rates are lower and the work rules just aren't there. If you factor in the Colgan upgrade then yes, the pilots there do make more money over X amount of years. It's a double-edged sword though. Do you really want Colgan to significantly improve their pay/work rules? The better compensated and treated employees are the less eager they are to leave...

[wheelsup]

Originally Posted by GaTechKid

If you stay there as a FO you don't want to do anything that might affect your upgrade. More than a couple people have been denied the upgrade because they have done things to annoy the Colgans.

This folks, is in part why unions exist. 1.95% is a small price to pay IMO.

[GaTechKid]

At the very least, Colgan could use some sort of association that would voice pilot concerns.

[blee256]

Originally Posted by Seggy

I find it VERY funny how people are bashing second year pay at Colgan. What is second year pay at Pinnacle per hour? Exactly, you are flying a plane with almost twice as many seats. We are the highest paid across the industry on the Beech. On the Saab we are VERY close to Mesaba and Eagle on the pay charts. I would even bet that our Saab guys make more than those at Mesaba and Eagle with our overtime, guys who become checkairman, and TDY.

My reply wasnt based on Hourly rates it was based on a GAtechKids comment on the 1220 monthly take home pay. Yes you are correct our pay sucks, and I mentioned that in my post. Our RJ pay IS the lowest in the industry. but I take home significantly more than 1220 a month second year.

[wheelsup]

Originally Posted by blee256

but I take home significantly more than 1220 a month second year.

I'm guessing that $1220/month figure was payrate x min guarantee though. Anyone at colgan wanna chime in?

Also I would assume someone that had been at colgan 1 year would be a pretty senior guy if not mid-tier level. And I would also assume FO's after 1 year would make more then min guarantee, correct?

Am I doing too much assuming here?

On a 50 seat RJ take home @ min guarantee is $1700/month after taxes/deductions/10% 401k. Bidding to work it's only about $1,000 more and that would include $450 in per diem.

The difference is the colgan guy will upgrade in the 1.5-2 year time frame, the RJ guy will upgrade around the 3 year level if they are lucky. 4-5 at most operators nowadays.

[Seggy]

Originally Posted by blee256

My reply wasnt based on Hourly rates it was based on a GAtechKids comment on the 1220 monthly take home pay. Yes you are correct our pay sucks, and I mentioned that in my post. Our RJ pay IS the lowest in the industry. but I take home significantly more than 1220 a month second year.

As do we, my SECOND paycheck for August was close to $1800.00 after taxes

[blee256]

Originally Posted by Seggy

As do we, my SECOND paycheck for August was close to $1800.00 after taxes

that sounds a lot better. I wasnt trying to knock colgan, but when I read colgan take home was at 1220 a month, I am surprised i was the only one that commented on that.

[Seggy]

Originally Posted by blee256

that sounds a lot better. I wasnt trying to knock colgan, but when I read colgan take home was at 1220 a month, I am surprised i was the only one that commented on that.

No worries, but in my year here, I have only been underblock ONCE for the month, so the overtime has been nice. I'll post my first year earnings once I get the overtime checks.

[wheelsup]

Originally Posted by Seggy

As do we, my SECOND paycheck for August was close to $1800.00 after taxes

DAMN! How many credit hours did you work? What was your first check?

Here we get two/month (like you) but they are setup like this:

15th - Overages from last month + half of min guarantee + per diem
30th - half of min guarantee

Last month I got a check for $1830 and $912. Credit was 95 hours and per diem was around 300. And we have some of the highest payrates that I'm aware of besides horizon.

Is that a "normal" check for a colgan FO or on the high side? $1800 after tax with no per diem would be like $2300 pre tax, which would be like 100 hours in a two week period, or 70 hours over guarantee last month if it's the same setup. I'm not doubting just speechless. That's a lot of flying, especially considering you have less soft time then other carriers do.

[Seggy]

Originally Posted by wheelsup

DAMN! How many credit hours did you work? What was your first check?

Here we get two/month (like you) but they are setup like this:

15th - Overages from last month + half of min guarantee + per diem
30th - half of min guarantee

Last month I got a check for $1830 and $912. Credit was 95 hours and per diem was around 300. And we have some of the highest payrates that I'm aware of besides horizon.

Is that a "normal" check for a colgan FO or on the high side? $1800 after tax with no per diem would be like $2300 pre tax, which would be like 100 hours in a two week period, or 70 hours over guarantee last month if it's the same setup. I'm not doubting just speechless. That's a lot of flying, especially considering you have less soft time then other carriers do.

We get a paycheck on the 5th and 20th of the month. The 5th paycheck is half of your guarantee, your 20th paycheck is the overtime+per diem check.

My pay credit was 141 hours 34 minutes for that month and per diem was $451.34 went TDY all over the place.

Why was my pay credit so high? I did a lot of stuff through LGA that month and we all know LGA=$$$$. Secondly, I deadheaded a lot through LGA. Thirdly, I was drafted 5 times that month! Fourthly, did some test flights, repos, runups, and repositions in a busy MX base during the summer.

Worked my a$$ off, flew close to 110 hours, but was happy when the pay check came.


That is a high paycheck for a Colgan FO, usually, we are in the 95-110 hour credit range, but it can happen when you get a month like my August.

You had a great post on first year pay, once I get my overtime check for last month, I think I am going to try to break it down. I think it would be good to compare.

[wheelsup]

Originally Posted by Seggy

You had a great post on first year pay, once I get my overtime check for last month, I think I am going to try to break it down. I think it would be good to compare.

Seeing how much you guys work, I'm guessing your pay will be close if not more. I'd be interested to see it too.